Nuclear Batteries Soon to Power Tiny Tech

Tech keeps advancing and as it does so gadgets get thinner and smaller – almost to the point where the portable power sources, batteries to you and I, are getting too chunky for the tech they need to juice up.

Well – what we could do with is some nuclear batteries like the vision of the future back in the 50’s.

Some University of Missouri researchers think the same – and they’ve only gone and done it!

Yup: Small nuclear batteries.

The secret behind the smallness of these batteries is that they use new liquid semiconductors instead of those old skool solid ones.

According to Jae Kwon, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Missouri these wont create a mushroom cloud in your pocket:

“People hear the word ‘nuclear’ and think of something very dangerous,” he said. “However, nuclear power sources have already been safely powering a variety of devices, such as pace-makers, space satellites and underwater systems.”

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmk.

Those clever (and brave) researchers are building and testing these batteries right now and they’re focusing on powering micro/nanoelectromechanical systems and not MP3 players or mobiles just yet.

Just think – there could be a time when we swing by Dixons to grab a pack of Nuclear Batteries – in our hover car obviously 🙂